Three high court judges have made their first inspection of the disputed religious site in the northern Indian city of Ayodhya as hearings are stepped up to decide who owns the land.

Authorities fear further eruptions of religious violence

The judges from the Allahabad High Court were accompanied by senior officials and archaeologists.

The visit follows a decision this week to start daily hearings to speed up the long-running case.

The delegation inspected the controversial makeshift temple built on the ruins of the 16th Century Babri Mosque torn down by Hindu zealots in 1992.

The court is hearing the claims of Hindu hardliners, who say the land marks the birthplace of the god-king Lord Rama, and Muslims, who say it belongs to them since a mosque was built there by the Mughal Emperor Babar.

Historical tensions

Tensions have escalated around the site since February, when a Muslim mob attacked a train returning from Ayodhya to Gujarat, killing almost 60 Hindu activists.